330209
A Systematic Review of Mixed Methods Research in Tobacco Control with Youth and Young Adults
Monday, November 2, 2015
: 1:10 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Craig S. Fryer, DrPH, MPH,
Department of Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Elizabeth L. Seaman, MHS,
Department of Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Introduction: Tobacco use among young people is a complex global public health issue that demands innovative and diverse research approaches. The purpose of this systematic methodological review was to examine the use of mixed methods research in tobacco control with youth and young adult populations and describe current strategies and develop practical recommendations. Methods: Using PubMed, we searched the scientific tobacco control literature for mixed methods research designs with young populations in five refereed journals. We analyzed seven aspects of each article including the tobacco control topic, population and recruitment strategies, and mixed methods features (e.g., qualitative and quantitative components, integration strategies). Results: From an initial sample of 3,170 abstracts, 21 mixed methods studies reported between 2004 and 2013 were identified. The majority (n=16) of the articles were published by scientists from the United States (n=12) and the United Kingdom (n=6) as well as India, Israel, and New Zealand. The preponderance of the first authors were in the behavioral sciences (n=12) while others were from medicine (n=6), marketing (n=2), and statistics (n=1). Additionally, about half (n=11) reported on studies investigating prevention interventions and perceptions of smokers and tobacco products. The majority (n=12) used a convergent parallel design in which the quantitative and qualitative strands of the study were administered simultaneously; emphasizing each strand equally. Conclusions: The use of mixed methods research in tobacco control has great potential for advancing understanding of multifarious behavioral phenomena to shape policy. We offer recommendations for using and reporting mixed methods research among young populations.
Learning Areas:
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Identify types of mixed methods approaches currently being employed in tobacco control research with young people;
Discuss both practical applications and challenges for future use of mixed methods research designs.
Keyword(s): Tobacco Control, Methodology
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal or co-investigator of multiple federally-funded grants focused on youth and young adult tobacco use prevention, cessation, and dependence. My methodological interests include utilization of mixed methods research in the examination of the intersection of tobacco and marijuana use among youth. Additionally, I am currently utilizing a mixed methods research design to investigate the dual use of flavored tobacco products among African American youth and young adults residing in urban environments.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
